Study Group Launch!!
"As a commoner who entered the academy dreaming of a rice-shoveling life...>"
It was so pathetic that even Grand Duke couldn't offer comfort and just stated the cold facts bluntly. My test paper got torn in half, so I couldn't even submit it, but afterward, out of frustration, I tried solving it again. Even if I had submitted, my score would've been dead last anyway, so I accepted it as an honorable death.
Thinking about it, wasn't I the reason the midterm turned into this hell? I didn't even want to imagine the resentment I'd face if I somehow got good grades. Everyone told me no one would blame me, but it felt like they were just soothing me to avoid calling in my parents, which made me even sadder.
"It's like throwing an elementary school kid into university—nothing you can do about it.>"
"Does that mean I can't improve my grades no matter how much I study from now on?!"
"The nobles finish that test in an average of 30 minutes, but even if you redid it, you'd take 4 hours and still not finish.>"
His words were so coldly factual that I could only hang my head and sigh deeply. I'd tried so hard to ignore and avoid it, but this was the reality of Wiyu Witchcraft!! Out of 750 first-years, I ranked 750th!!
"I'll never graduate the academy, drop out, and slink back home to sob on Mom's lap!!"
"That must be the end of the world....>"
"It's okay, Grand Duke did his best."
"If you hadn't insisted on keeping your conscience, I would've bribed the professor to swap your paper with the top student's.>"
Demonic as it was, Grand Duke claimed sometimes evil was necessary. He said the world couldn't be kept peaceful with justice alone—a sad truth—but really, it meant my grades wouldn't improve without cheating since I'm such an idiot. Even if I saw the answers and explanations, I wouldn't understand why they worked.
Picture this: the professor calls me up in class to solve problems like the top student. The shame, embarrassment, and guilt of fraud would make me explode right there.
"The end of the universe....>"
"That bad?"
"With your total energy output, you could reverse entropy, kid.>"
Instead of exploding myself, he whispered to make the opponent explode—offering a forbidden spell that turns someone into a bomb and hurls them to detonate. A taboo mage wielding a monster's long-forgotten incantation from history... Was he right that it'd benefit the world more?
"Ah, whatever. I give up on graduating through studying."
Having put in enough effort, I decided to quit quickly on what I couldn't do. For three months, I'd studied desperately, chipping away at my life force to catch up, but the gap hadn't narrowed at all.
"I'll collect treasures or find other ways to earn points... and graduate!!"
"Getting a manga from the club officially serialized is one way.>"
Right, it was too early to despair. The academy's possibilities were infinite(?)!! Even if I sucked at studying, there had to be overflowing ways to graduate!!
"Graduating that way is definitely possible."
"See!!"
"But it feels too complacent."
"Wha—why?!"
Big Sword Dunce, the treasure collection club's leader and first-year "749th" placer. We'd fought over treasures before, but we always ended up friends afterward. Knowing we were both study-dumb brought us closer. The issue? She thought I was a commoner farmer, but she's a noble...? A genuinely dim-witted friend—I kept that thought inside. But my face must've shown it, because she mercilessly kicked my shin. Then she crumpled, whining about her big toe maybe breaking.
"Our academy strictly values ability and achievements."
"Uh, yeah, I know..."
"Out of 750 first-years, 457 are commoners and 293 are nobles."
I learned later, but weren't there too many nobles? The world was vast, with many kingdoms and territories, so noble society must tick along somehow. There were lower houses too... I slept through Noble House Studies class, so I wasn't sure.
I tilted my head at Big Sword Dunce: So why tell me this?
"Nobles have titles. The academy imposes 'penalties' proportional to your rank."
"Wha...t?"
I thought nobles got preferential treatment from the entrance exam. Minus points based on title...?
"Despite appearances, my guardian house title is duke-level like yours."
"...And?"
"But including duke, Aris Witchcraft is essentially the empress of witches—grand duke, right below the imperial family."
Big Sword Dunce's house was complicated, but called duke here. Among witches, I was straight-up "princess"—I was shocked. Made sense; I'd heard witches had a queen figure.
"Commoners can graduate just by attending three years without trouble."
"Pay tuition, get good grades, and nobles hire you into their territories..."
"Exactly. It's like a mini-society where lords build ties and vassals."
Big Sword Dunce said that's why nobles get "responsibility" penalties for equality.
"I hunt treasures for points, but honestly, no confidence in graduating on grades."
"...So I'm above you?"
"Yes."
Manga serialization wouldn't cut it; even with No.1 Maid Golem and recent treasures, still far off, she warned. Did that mean studying after all?
"Nobles solved fast. Easy for them."
"...No way?"
"Below average rank means penalties for nobles."
I envisioned Manga Club's Ghost senior grinning, "Hey, junior~>" It meant my achievements so far were wiped—dead last first-year.
Big Sword Dunce nodded.
"Ah, found you two. Getting friendly? Ladies of the houses, mind if a commoner joins?"
Bragging about 456th after losing her paper but getting commoner bonus...?!
"Apologize to the 294 below you!!"
"Zero but high rank... Must've gamed reputation.."
Yamucha, dubbed commoner rep. Rumored to lead commoner gatherings. Knew all first-year commoner names—smart too. Zero score? Deception...!
We couldn't lose, so I asked Big Sword Dunce about noble clubs.
"Big Sword Dunce! Don't nobles have clubs?!"
"None, because of you."
"...Huh?"
Yamucha calmed me with cola and explained: Normally, Third Prince Jonathan Rehem would've formed one. Instead, top student Ephemera got commoner and noble support. Heirs, but she's already family head of imperial knight house.
I was stunned. Beat Third Prince in front of imperial knights' head? Ephemera was nicer than I thought—no stabbing.
Nobles lacked a center, Yamucha said. Next highest were us two, fiercely competing at the bottom—noble shame. Ephemera opened library/gym free, respecting effort with elegance; nobles idolized her, commoners followed her mercy.
"Fancy talk, but split into four factions, shifting alliances."
Repeating seniors were forming around Ephemera now, he added.
"Haven't heard."
"Me neither."
"Even as nobles, they won't invite us...."
Too true—no words. Grade-bottom nobles were shameful!
"...But shouldn't some bully you: 'Still noble?'"
"Witchcraft."
Yamucha called it untouchable. No surpassing one generation's feats. Everyone prepared since Witchcraft enrolled—hurt my heart. Diverse experience builds growth; blinded by their academy spirit, I squeezed eyes shut.
"Big Sword Dunce... Let's prep for June finals from now..."
"Ah... Seclusion training."
"...Should I help?"
"You two—wait!!"
As we huddled for study plans, Bribery Professor—no, Divination Professor stopped us. Ephemera twirled hair beside.
"Heh heh heh... Noble house problem children!! First-year shames... I'm here for you!!"
""??"
"Bound to oversee Wiyu Witchcraft, boosting teacher authority output... With my Furube Yurayura (Parent Call), nothing's impossible."
Bit confusing, but she'd leveraged problem-child duty for perks.
Professor listed presentations, rankings, field trips, volunteering, festival events, major classes—even inter-academy exchanges, internships, external contests. Eyes sparkling, she bore the duty to stack achievements any way.
Her eyes blazed vengeful fire.
"Told others about treasures for all, but professors united, sacrificed me, dropped me to abyss."
"Heh heh heh...!! Can't suffer alone...!! You two!! I swear on World Tree: I'll graduate you, sacrificing others!!!"
Revenge on academy for our bad luck. We exchanged looks: This right?
"Oh, you'll get third-year top scorer Manitto. Forming your study group!!"
Harsh, but for house honor? Professor eyed expectantly.
"Positive spin. Not turning us grad students."
"...Not dragging friends down..."
Sorry to Meru Lume teaching me, so we agreed. No clue the trials ahead.
Exhausted, we flopped on corridor chairs; topper Ephemera sat between. She'd kept first, asked professor for facility tours—rewards for top. I'd never get. New despair choked me; I gloomied.
